Round And Round She Goes; Where Danica Stops, Only She Knows
Word’s afoot that Danica Patrick may have some major announcement to make today.
Speculation already has her being pulled in three different directions: to remain with the Indy Racing League but with a new team (rumored to be Chip Ganassi’s open-wheel operation), to make the long-speculated move to NASCAR or potentially moving to Formula One.
If the IRL loses Patrick, it also loses one of its key drawing cards – something the fledgling racing series can ill afford to lose.
If NASCAR attracts Patrick, she’ll bring great looks but also a very sparse resume when it comes to racing success. I mean, if she can’t conquer the IRL, what makes anyone think she’ll be a superstar in NASCAR?
And then there’s F1, where she could have the world as her stage and would potentially become one of the most popular and visible female athletes anywhere in the globe.
Unfortunately, with three distinct racing series to choose from, Patrick is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t.
If she stays with the IRL, critics will say she didn’t have the guts to try NASCAR or F1.
If she goes to NASCAR and flops, critics will say “I told you so.”
And if she goes to F1 and flops there, critics will say she should have stayed in the IRL.
Personally, I’ve somewhat mellowed in my perception of Danica. I once called her nothing but “flesh and flash,” believing that she rode her looks to notoriety and attention rather than her talent behind the wheel.
I still believe that, but at the same time I have evolved to the mindset where yes, I’d really like her to succeed somewhere, regardless of which series she may soon race in.
I feel the same way about Dale Earnhardt Jr. I really would like to see him succeed in Sprint Cup and finally earn that long-sought championship, if for no other reason than to get the critics off his back and to also reward his legions of die-hard fans for their loyalty and support over the years.
I wish Patrick well in whatever choice she makes. She’ll still continue to be one of the most ogled – and googled – female athletes in the U.S., or potentially in the world.
Let’s just hope she achieves greater success wherever she winds up, as good looks will only take her so far. If she is as talented a racer as she claims she is, then the next few years could really be something to look forward to.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/15 at 09:42 PMAll storeys like this serve to do is to pump her price. She’s not going anywhere, maybe to another IRL team, but she’s not leaving the IRL. If by some strange set of circumstances, she were to go to NA$CAR. It would signal the end of her serious racing career. This move would be nothing but a sell out. I’m sure that the Chip, n Dales would love to have her, but they’d be hard pressed to get her higher than 30th. As for F1, get real! The real question is…......Does she want to be a racer, or a novelty act.
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